A strange incident occurred during the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal between India and Australia in Dubai. Australian captain Steve Smith chose to bat after winning the toss. Australia began strongly, with Travis Head scoring boundaries freely.
India achieved their first breakthrough when Mohammed Shami dismissed Cooper Connolly for a duck. Later, Varun Chakravarthy, brought into the attack by Rohit Sharma, immediately took the crucial wicket of Head for 39.
In the 14th over, bowled by Axar Patel, India nearly got their third wicket. A delivery from Axar to Steve Smith spun and caught the inside edge, proceeding to hit the base of the off-stump.
Incredibly, despite the ball’s contact with the stumps, the bails remained in place, granting Smith a reprieve. Rohit Sharma and other Indian players displayed visible disappointment at this stroke of luck for the Australian captain.
The Indian bowlers maintained pressure, but half-centuries from Steve Smith and Alex Carey guided Australia to 264 all out in the Champions Trophy semifinal in Dubai on Tuesday.
Smith’s innings of 73, which included four boundaries and a six, was crucial for Australia. He anchored the innings and participated in three fifty-run partnerships: 52 with Travis Head, 56 with Marnus Labuschagne, and 54 with Carey (61).
Australia could have been in a stronger position if these partnerships had developed further. Head’s innings of 39 was also filled with close calls, including a dropped catch and near misses of the stumps.
Despite the luck, Head played some impressive shots, including a six off Hardik Pandya and three fours off Shami.
This helped Australia recover after the early dismissal of Cooper Connolly, who was opening due to Matthew Short’s injury.
However, Chakravarthy ended Head’s innings when Shubman Gill caught him in the deep.
Labuschagne was then dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja, trapped lbw.
Josh Inglis looked comfortable but was also dismissed by Jadeja, caught by Virat Kohli.
Smith continued steadily, demonstrating excellent control. His six off Jadeja was a display of timing and power.
However, Smith’s innings concluded when he was bowled by Shami.
Glenn Maxwell came in with 13 overs remaining, but was soon dismissed by Axar Patel.
Carey continued to bat determinedly and formed a 34-run partnership with Ben Dwarshuis to take Australia past 250.
Carey was eventually run out by a direct hit from Shreyas Iyer.
Chasing 264 in a semifinal is not easy, but India would be content, having limited Australia to this total after they looked set for a much higher score.
